Any Boy but You

When I read the blurb and the comparison to You've Got Mail, I was hooked. Throw in a Romeo and Juliet aspect and you have the awesome first book in the North Pole series. This was a really cute book about two teens who have no idea why they are supposed to hate each, only that that is what is expected of their families. Even the people in the town have taken sides between these two families and it has always been that way. For the most part, this was a fun, lighthearted story but it did touch on some issues that can be especially difficult to navigate during the teen years. I absolutely loved Elena. She's feisty and an amazing friend. Oliver was hilarious once he started to come out of his shell. I can't wait to see what's in store of the rest of these characters as the series continues. *This is my voluntary review of an Advanced Reader Copy*

A Romeo-Juliet-esque plot in a tourist town sounded like just the perfect February read (Valentine's day is so near). Before we begin, I must admit I was a bit skeptical about the book at first - romance-based plots are not really my thing, but I was in a reading slump (which is the worst) and well, anything goes at that time. I was, still, prepared to be bored or disappointed, but instead was pleasantly surprised that I went on and finished this book in one sitting. The plot kept me involved and interested right until the end of the book, and I was left with a slight buzz of euphoria (that could have also been the fact that I was able to complete a book in middle of said slump). What made this book stand out for me is that though it is predominantly a romance, it also develops the characters and their other storylines pretty well. No interaction or character feels wasted, and the fact that almost everything looped back to the central storyline kept the story coherent and cohesive. Elena and Oliver are developing this simultaneous attraction to their respective online friends (who are each other) but they are also meanwhile struggling with instability in home life - Elena's family is losing money in the shop and wants to close up and leave town, and she has to think about college funding, while Oliver is dealing with his parents' divorce, his mother's expectations for him, and his introversion. The story comes together beautifully, and interspersed with an augmented reality game that will give you Pokemon Go feels, some comic moments and the short length of the book, this is one novel that you will enjoy to finish in a day. Recommended for all feeling the love in the air!

3 stars — I am pretty fussy with my enemies to lovers trope stories, and this one was okay, but hit some of my buttons that prevented it from being more than just okay. Although I did stay up late reading it, so it was compelling! The problem with this one (for me) is that the hate and meanness lasted longer than I would have liked. I think at *least* halfway through and I was still getting more snipping at each other, and honestly just appalling behavior. And Oliver and Elena hadn’t really ramped up their online relationship, so I wasn’t getting enough balance of connection and romance. I guess I just don’t like to read about people holding grudges, and being mean to each other…I want a little of that to establish the original relationship, and then I want to see that gradual change. Honestly, I wasn’t that impressed with either MC in this one. They had good and bad qualities, but I doubt I would have been friends with either one. Oliver was kinda self-absorbed and obsessed with computers. We do get a bit of depth with his fear of rejection, and I felt that…but something. I don’t know. I just can’t imagine honestly wanting someone else’s business to fail, and it felt like Oliver did. They were both really caught up in the grudges of their families that had been drilled in from birth. I guess I can’t understand that and relate. Elena had isolated herself a lot, and her sass felt a bit more mean-spirited at times (even just with Craig). I did appreciate that she didn’t dictate to Harper about who she could hang around with — she tried not to let her grudge truly affect anyone else. By the time we got to see the two of them actually behave nicely towards each other, I was kind of just tired and wanting to see how it was going to end. I did enjoy the one day where they hung out together — it was actually pretty cute, and I started to feel their chemistry more. So it wasn’t without redemption. All the stuff surrounding the grudge, and the stuff with their parents? I don’t know how I feel about all that. I almost wish I understood more, and I wish they’d acted like actual responsible parents at some point in the story. I really enjoyed Harper as a best friend — she was unique, and I appreciated the connections she had with both Elena and Oliver. And in general the townspeople and fellow students were kind of fun and memorable (and not in a bad way). So yeah. Just not my cup of tea. I have a feeling that for true fans of enemies to lovers, they would enjoy it more. I’m just a wannabe. 😛